Plant for the investigation of hydraulic machines



June 27, 1939. c. KELLER 2,164,000

PLANT FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF HYDRAULIC IACHINBS med Febr. 4. 1937 mentioned that in investigations carried out with air, the blades of model wheels and other parts of a model plant can be made of wood or light metal, which further cheapens the investigations and also permits or high peripheral speeds, which, again, correspond to greater heads, For the same wheel dimensions, therefore, greater brake horsepower can be obtained.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example and more or less diagrammatically, two constructional forms of the subject matter of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a plant in which air is drawn through the part to be investigated.

Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale and in section a detail of this plant.

Fig. 3 shows a plant in which air is through the part to be investigated.

In Fig. l the reference I denotes the guide apparatus and 2 the rotor wheel of the model of a water turbine. Awater brake 3 isadapted to absorb the power developed by the rotor wheel 2. To the parts I, 2 is connected a suction pipe 4 and to this latter a divergent pipe 5, this latter being connected to a compensating container 6. A device 1, for ordering and directing the airflow communicates through a bend 8 with the compensating container 6. The device 1 delivers to a volume measuring device comprising a nozzle or orflce 9 with a differential manometer 9a of conventional form for measuring the pressure drop across such nozzle or orifice. The compensating container 6 is merely a chamber of comparatively large capacity in which the air current flowing from the diffuser 5 loses its velocity to a considerable extent so that the air flowing to the nozzle or orifice 9 through the bend 8 flows with-uniform velocity over the entire transverse area of the stream, a condition which is further enhanced by the action of the directing device I. The effect of the compensating container 6 and the directing device 1 is to afford the necessary even flow velocity through the nozzle or orifice 9, to the end that accurate measurement of flow may be had. The numeral I0 denotes a multistage blower of axial flow type which serves as the means for circulating the air through the test apparatus. This blowerjs driven by a motor ll through the driving belt II. The blades 30 of this blower H) are adjustable. To permit such an adjustment being made, a lever 32 (Fig. 2) is secured to the journal 3| of each blade 30. A link 33 is connected to each lever 32, all links 33 being movably connected to an adjusting member 34. A ring 35 is mounted on the latter in such a way that it is free to rotate. The ring 35 can be moved on the shaft 31 of the blower in the axial direction of this shaft together with the adjusting member 34 by means of a fork-shaped member 36. This member 36 can be swung about a fixed pivot 38 and is movably connected at 39 with a spindle 40, which latter can be adjusted by hand. By means of an axial adjustment of the member 34 the blades 30 may be set into the desired position. The blower III has a suction pipe 12, constructed as a diffuser, and an exhaust pipe I3. Opposite the outlet of the pipe [3 a throttling device, in the form of an adjustable baffle plate I4 isdisposed.

In the plant described, the axialblower Ill draws air from the surrounding atmosphere, first through the guide apparatus l and the rotor wheel 2 of the model to be investigated and then through the pipes 4, 5, as indicated by the arrows A. The parts up to the delivery blower l0 and forced also this latter itself are thus under a pressure less than atmopsheric pressure. The compensating container 8 and the device I cooperate to compensate the velocity and direct the air drawn in by the blower I0, before it enters the measuring nozzle or orflce 9, so that this latter permits of accurate quantitative measurements being made. The arrangement described ensures that the admission to the turbine takes place in the perfectly uniform manner which is indispensable for accurate investigations.

The plant shown possesses also an adjustable water resistance 24 for regulating the speed of rotation of the motor H and thus also of the blower l0. By means of this resistance 24 and the described means for varying the blade setting of the blower l0 and with the aid, also, of the baffle plate l4 different deliveries and different heads can be obtained.

In the plant shown in Fig. 3 a multistage axial blower l5, driven by means of a belt drive I6 by a motor I6, is arranged in front of the part I! to be investigated, in considering the direction of flow of the air delivered by the said blower. The air supplied by the blower flows to the part ll in a spiral casing l8. A volume measuring device comprising a nozzle or orifice I! with manometer I911, is mounted at the entrance end of the air circuit and delivers to a compensating container 20 whose function is similar to that of the container 6 already described. Outflow from the container 20 is controlled by a throttling device which takes the form of an adjustable baflle plate 2| controlling communication between the compensating container 20 and the suction pipe 22 of the axial blower indicated at 15, generally similar to the blower l0 above described.

In'this case air is drawn in by the axial blower l5 from the surrounding atmosphere, through the measuring nozzle or orifice l9 and the compensating container 20 in the direction of the arrow B and is then delivered through the part I! to be investigated, and at 23 passes out again into the surrounding atmosphere.

By shifting the position of the baffle plate 2| different deliveries and different heads can be produced.

In order to economise power for driving the plant, the power supplied by the investigated turbine may be transmitted in the manner shown in Fig. 3 by a belt 25 wholly or in part to the driving shaft of the blower, so that useless dissipation of the power developed by the turbine IT in the brake apparatus 26 may be avoided. With this arrangement the only'power to be supplied from external sources in order to work the plant is an amount equivalent to the losses, i. e., the difference between the power absorbed in the blower and that delivered by the turbine.

What is claimed is:

1. A plant for the investigation of complete hydraulic machines, particularly water turbines or models thereof, under working conditions, said plant comprising in combination, means defining a flow path for air; means for mounting the machine to be investigated in said flow path in such manner that all of the air flowing through the path flows through the machine; means for imposing a definite load on said machine; a blower for circulating air through said flow path; means for driving said blower; adjustable means for varying the head and quantity of air flowing through said path; and means for measuring the volume of air flow through said path.

2. A plant for the investigation of complete hyamt-coo clraolic machines, particularly Water turbines or models thereof, under Working conditions, saitt plant comprising in combination, meant tie-= fining a i'iovv pathior air; means for moomtiria the machine to be investigated to said iiovv patio in such. manner that all oi" the air flowing through the patio flows through the machine; means for imposing a definite load on saioi iiieeiiiiie; a lolower for circiilatiiie air through flow oath; means for driving saiol blower; atiirottlioa rle vice for varviog tloe tread amt ooaiititv oi air flowing tiirooeli. saiol pat o; aiici means for measmine the volume of air flow through saiol path.

' it It olaiit for the inveetigatioii oi complete hydraulic machines, particularly water turbines or models thereof, uiirler working conditions, said plant comprising in combination, means defining a i'lovv path for air; means for mounting the machine to be investigated in saicl flow path to melt manner that all oi time air ilowioo: tiirooeli path flows through the machine; means ior im posing a definite load on said machine; a blower iiaviiic adjustable olaelee; means for aoiioatoioiv setting saie'i blades; means for driving said. blower; means for varying the speed. at which said! blower is driven: and means for measuring time voiume oi air iicvv through said oath.

it plant for the investigation of complete hydraulic machines, oarticularis Water turbines or models thereof, oiirler ivorliine conditions, said plant coiiiprisnim3, iii combination, means defining a fiovv path for air; means for mounting; the ma chine to be investigated in said flow patio in such manner that all oi the air iiovvinc through the path flows through the machine; means i'or imposing a tiefmite least on. said'maciiiiie; a iiiower for circulating through saicl tlow patio; means for driving said blower; adjustable means for varying the head and quantity of air flowing through saici patio; means for measuring the V03" ume of air flow through said path; and means for applying at least in part the energy output oi the machine being investigated for driving said lolovver. 

